Altophobia | Fear of Heights

(all-toe-fo-be-ah)

What is Altophobia?

Altophobia (or Acrophobia) is the extreme or irrational fear of heights. This phobia is different from Aerophobia which is the extreme or irrational fear of flying, and is classed separately from specific phobias since this fear is more generalized.

An altophobic, depending on the severity of the condition, may fear being on a high floor, climbing a ladder or any activity that involves heights or being at height. In extreme cases, a single step up or down can act as a trigger.

Altophobia is one of the most common phobias to cause an irrational fear of objects or situations.

Most people experience a degree of natural fear when exposed to heights, rationally tied to the fear of falling and injury, so alto- or acrophobia is a matter of degree and presentation of symptoms.

The origin of the word 'alto' is Greek (meaning high) and phobia is Greek (meaning fear).

Causes of Altophobia

Fear of falling, along with fear of loud noises, is one of the most commonly suggested inborn or non-associative fears. Difficulties with balance may contribute to the formation of this phobia.

Altophobia seems to be at least partially ingrained as an evolutionary survival mechanism. As a “normal” human reaction, acrophobia is another diagnosis related to the severity of symptoms.

Altophobia is a specific (or “isolated”) phobia, centered on non-social key factors. Such phobias tend to have some previous trauma (often in childhood and often physically injurious) as a root cause; a fear of bees may stem from an injury in childhood, for instance.

Upbringing can also play a role, such as parental warnings about a direct threat (such as “snakes can bite and kill you”) which is especially notable in cases where a threat is more imminent. (An allergy to bees or peanut butter, for instance, would naturally reinforce a real medical concern.)

It is thought that genetics and hereditary factors may play a role in specific phobias, especially those related to a danger of injury. (A primal “fight or flight” reflex may be more easily triggered in those with a genetic predisposition, for instance.)

By contrast, social phobias (like a fear of body odor or touch) are less well understood, are driven by social anxiety and are broadly labeled as “social anxiety disorder”.

In all kinds of phobias, external experiences and / or reports can further reinforce or develop the fear, such as seeing a family member or friend who is affected. In extreme cases, indirect exposures can be as remote as overhearing a reference in conversation, seeing something in the news, on TV, or in the movies.

Altophobia, like most phobias, stems from a subconscious overprotection mechanism, and as with many phobias can also be rooted in an unresolved emotional conflict.

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